Ralph walked in from the hallway. “What’s going on? Did I hear Dottie telling you some stupid ghost stories again? By the way, welcome home, Jason.”
Dottie put her hands over her face, but Konrad saw the skin around them turning red. Jason and his uncle clasped hands and patted each other’s backs in a man hug.
At last, Dottie balled her fists and yelled, “I can’t do this anymore.”
Jason raised his eyebrows. “Can’t do what, Aunt Dottie?”
“This! All of this. Managing an apartment building full of miscreants, trying to rent unrentable units, using what little authority I have to collect the rent and being undermined at every turn. I’ve had it!” She stormed off toward her bedroom.
Ralph shook his head. “She’s been like this ever since she published that travel article. Now she wants to take off in an RV and tour destinations all over the country.”
Merry and Jason spoke at the same time. “She published the article?”
“What article?” Konrad asked.
Ralph scratched his chin. “When we were in the Caribbean scouting hotels for Jason and Merry’s honeymoon, Dottie found her calling. She had a ball touring the various facilities and grilling the managers. Later she used all her notes to write an article describing each place in detail and submitted it to a few travel magazines.”
Dottie strode back into the living room with a magazine in her hand. “And not only did a magazine offer me a good paycheck for it, the editor wanted me to write more.”
Jason took the magazine from her. “That’s great! Is it in this issue?”
“Page twenty-three,” she announced proudly.
Ralph cleared his throat. “Um, Jason, after you get settled, there’s something I’d like to discuss with you.”
“Sure. Give us a couple of hours to unpack.”
“When you’re free, can I speak with you too?” Konrad asked.
“If it’s about the rent, don’t worry about it.” Jason clapped him on the back. “My wife’s right. If not for you, she might not have survived the attack in the alley. Take that eviction notice and tear it up.”
Whew. Dodged one bullet. Now all I have to worry about is a grand jury.
***
While Roz was at the courthouse, trying to change the date of the big trial to a waxing or waning moon, Konrad decided he should bone up on the law. Unfortunately he didn’t have any law books, so he pulled out his copy of John Grisham’sThe Jury.
He remembered enjoying the story the first time he’d read it, but now he was a defendant.I might as well prepare myself for the inevitable.
He had barely started reading when he heard a commotion from upstairs. It sounded like women yelling, and not in ecstasy, so he put down the book and hoped the witches weren’t killing each other again.
“I should mind my own business,” he said out loud.
He retrieved the book and tried to read. After he had scanned the same sentence three times, he realized it was no use. He had to intervene.
Upon opening his door, he was able to identify the voices. Yup. Morgaine and Gwyneth were at it again. Suddenly a new voice was added to the cacophony.Joe?
“Look, it’s not her fault. I told her I like to listen,” he said.
“That doesn’t mean she should forwardallthe calls to your apartment. I didn’t receive a single phone call for two days. I thought all my customers deserted me. Instead I find out my dear cousin is stealing them!”
“It ain’t like that, Morgaine.”
“Oh, yeah? Then whatisit like?”
“Like Joe said, he likes to listen to me handle the sex calls.”
Joe cleared his throat. “If you ladies will excuse me…” He retreated to his apartment and closed the door.
